Influence of drug solubility, drug polymer ratio, nature of co-excipients and thermal treatment on drug release from Carbopol 974P matrix tablets

Abstract

In this study, matrix tablets of cinnarizine and nimodipine were prepared with Carbopol- 974 at different drug to polymer ratio along with co-excipients of varying hydrophilicity i.e. dicalcium phosphate and spray dried lactose. At higher polymer concentration, the drug release was slow and followed super case II transport mechanism. At lower concentration of carbopol, the diffusion mechanism was anomalous transport as indicated by lower value of n for both the drugs. Nature of excipient was observed to be important where hydrophilic excipient favored drug release with respect to the inorganic less hydrophilic counterpart.